Switching apparatus.



C. RENSHAW.

SWITCHING APPARATUS. APiLICATlON FILED OCT. 31. 1913.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

W l ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTGE.

CLARENCE RENSHAW, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA. A-SSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 013 PENNSYL- VANI A.

SWITCHING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 31, 1913.

'1 '0 oil whom it may concern.

Be it known that l. (hannxcn Tlnxsnaw, a citizen of the Tinned Mates. and a resident of .lCdge-wood Park. in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switching Apparatus. of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switching apparatus of the group switch type, and it has special reference to the supporting structure thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a dewice of the above indicated character which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction. and particularly adapted to economize vertical space. which is essential for switch groups employed upon certain types of railway cars and locomotives. particularly the well-known low-floor cars.

In the prior construction of switch groups, it has been common to provide a supporting frame and to secure the several switch parts directly thereto. 1nsulating them therefrom by suitable bushin s and washers. This construction was expensive both in material and in the cost of assembling, and. moreover. occupied unnecessary vertical space.

According to my invention, the. structure provided overcomes the dii'iicultics and objections to the prior structures and secures the benefits and advantages hmereinbetore mentioned.

in the a companying drawing. Figure 1 is a view. partially in section and partially in side elevation. of a. portion of a switch group constructed in accordance with my invention. and Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of said device.

Referring to the ,drawing, the switch group shown comprises a supporting frame or member 1, having a plu -a ity or" large openings 2 disposed in pairs longitudinally and provided with strengthening ribs 3. and an insulating plate or boa d 4- which is sub stantially the size of the frame 1 and se cured to its underside by means of a plurality of attaching devices 5 oi suitable Form.

Beneath the. several pairs of openings 2 and in side-by-side relation. a plurality of swit hing units 6 are suspended in a manner to be hereinafter set. forth.

The switch units 6 are of like construction Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 798,483.

and each comprises switch box 7 of insulating material having an open end,- a stationary contact terminal 8 and a co'o'perat ing movable contact terminal 9.- The stationary contact terminal 8 is secured to a block 10 of conducting material which, in turn. is supported from the upper portion 11 ot' the switch box 7 by means of screws 12. The contact member 9 movably and resiliently associated with a conducting block 13 by means of an interposed linkage 14:, which will not be described. The conducting block 13 is secured to the upper wall 11 oi the switch box 7 in a manner similar to that just referred to.

Each of the conducting blocks 10 and 13 is provided with a conducting stud or bolt 15 which has a serew-tln'eaded engagement therewith and which projects through the opening 2 in the frame 1 and through a suitable opening in the insulating board 4. Disposed within the opening 2 and spaced from the sides thereof, is a block or collar 16 of insulating material which surrounds the bolt 15. Such spacing important in that it materially increases the crecpage distance between live parts and the irmuc-work of the switch group. The bolt 1.3 is provided with a head 17 between which and the insulating collar 16 an external connector 18 and a cross-connecting strip or member 19 are disposed. Thus. the several conducting bolts 15 serve, not only as conducting terminals for the switch parts, but also to clamp the switch parts. together with the switch box. to the insulating plate 1, independently or the supporting frame 1.

Since the upward contact pressure must be withstood by the frame 1 without undue bending, the purpose of the stiffening ribs 3 will be appreciated, although such ribs do not add any unnecessary vertical height to the structure, since the insulating collars-16 are of a corresponding height, but are entircly located within the openings 2. Thus the requisite rigidity and a minimum strnc tural height. as well as good electrical insulating properties, are provided.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structural details and the ar 'angement and location of parts set forth.

I claim as my invention:

1. Tn a switching device. the combination with a supporting frame having relatively large openings therein, a plate otinsulating Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

(is that pcoject i openings, of

severally surrounding said studs and disposel in l openings, and spaced from the e s thereof, and means cooperatwith i uls and independent of said frame i501 lng said switch parts 0 said plate.

2. In a switching device, the combination with a supporting frame having relatively large openings therein, an insulating plate secured to said frame and a plurality of switch ports engaging said insulating plate,

of a plurality of bolts yrojecting through said, openings and said insulating plate into said switch parts, blocks of insulating Inaeeiinl in-iouncling said bolts within said openings and spaced away from the edges of said. openings and means cooperating with said bolts for clamping saicl switch gel-ts 51c said plate independently of said meme,

3. In SWliJCh group, the combination with a sngop 'line be of ielativei pas t1.

ing members projecting through sziicl frame openings and said insulating plate for securing the reletivelv movable contact members to said insulating pintoindependenily of said frame, and insulating means dispose Within said frame openings and spaced from the edges thereof to provide a reletiv 1y long creepage distance between snicl frame and said conducting members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd. day of Oct, 1913.

CLARENCE RENSHAVV. lvitnessesz V Fnnn C. HANKER,

B, B. HINEs. 

